Trek across Timor/ The Retreat in Timor (continued)

"TO THE AUSTRALIAN AND DUTCH OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS. THE WAR IS OVER. N.E.I. FELL IN OUR HAND IN SUCCESSION. ON MARCH 9TH ALL ALLIED FORCES SURRENDERED TO US WITHOUT ANY CONDITIONS. ON TIMOR ISLAND ABOUT 1,100 AUSTRALIANS AND 100 DUTCH SOLDIERS UNDER LIEUT.-COL. LEGGATT AND DETIGER DID THE SAME. THEY ARE ENJOYING LIFE AND AWAITING FOR YOU, BEING SUPPLIED WITH BREAD, MEAT AND FRESH VEGETABLES. IF YOU CONTINUE FIGHTING AGAINST US THERE'S NO WAY BUT TO CONQUER YOU. SO COME TO US WITH THIS INFORMATION AND WAIT FOR RETURN OF PEACE WITH YOUR FRIENDS. JAPANESE ARMY: MARCH 14TH, 1942."

In the face of this somewhat misleading document, together with definite news that a patrol was on its way, the position of the party seemed precarious in the extreme, but it was decided not to return to the hills for the meantime, in the hope that rescue plans would be carried out on Friday night.

During the day the party was joined by two officers who had crashed in Timor on 13 March—Fl Lt Cook and PO Leithhead—both of whom joined the waiting men on the beach, where anxiety mounted as the night wore on, but in the late hours the American submarine Sea Raven arrived and commenced the rescue.

Here again difficulties piled up. The surf was running high and it was necessary for the fit men, who could pull themselves along a line, to be taken aboard the submarine's boat first. Examination showed, however, that the only fit men among 17 were Fl Lt Rofe and one other with shrapnel in his arm—and by the time the boat had reached the submarine with them there was no time to attempt the rescue of the sick men since the vessel had to be clear of the coast by dawn. They were safely taken aboard the following night, however, and the vessel cleared for Fremantle.

Flight Lieutenant B. Rofe, in hospital at Fremantle after the escape from Timor in 1942. Australian War Memorial negative no. 044686

Even then their troubles were not over, for fire broke out next to an ammunition room aboard the submarine when five days out from Timor, making it necessary for the vessel to be towed to port.

Altogether, four men died on the trek from Koepang. For his excellent work and leadership, Fl Lt Rofe was awarded the military division of the Order of the British Empire.

Bureau of Meteorology